Cover for laundry-tubs.



I. L. MILLER.

covrza FOR LAUNDRY was.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15.1915

PatentedAug. 28, 1917.

5 nuewioz Am I M ISAAC L. MILLEB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COVER FOR, LAUNDRY-TUBS;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

Application filed July 15, 1915. Serial No. 39,960.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Isaac L. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers for Laundry-Tubs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to covers for laundry tubs.

The principal object of this invention is to provide as a new article of manufacture a cover which may be adjusted to different sizes of tubs of the above character.

A further object is to provide a cover for laundry tubs which constitute a permanent fixture in houses, that may be adjusted so as to entirely cover the space between the rear wall of the tub and the wall of the room.

Further objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following detailed description and the features of novelty will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional fragmental View of my improved cover shown applied to a tub.

Fig. 2 is a rear fragmental view of the cover partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of my improved cover showing a modified form of clamping means.

Fig. 4; is a rear fragmental view partly in section of the modification illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the cover illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing in dotted lines the modified form of clamping means.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional fragmental view showing the manner in which the cover may be applied when the tub is flush against the wall.

In many houses, laundry tubs constitute a permanent fixture and are permanently connected with the plumbing. In a large proportion of houses, these tubs are placed in the kitchen and when covered often serve as a table. On account of the plumbing at the rear of the tub, there usually is a space between the wall of the room and the rear wall of the tub. It is desirable to close this space in order that when articles are placed upon the cover they could not fall behind the tub. Very often on account of the difference in the plumbing, the space between the tub and the wall varies in width, and as it is the purpose of the invention to provide practically one size of cover, means is provided whereby the cover may be hinged at different points so that it may be adjusted upon the tub at such a point as to entirely cover the space at the rear thereof.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the rear wall 10 of the laundry tub is fitted the usual pair of faucets 11 which are connected to a source of water supply by the elbow 12 and pipe 13.

My improved cover 1 1 is preferably made of sheet metal although obviously it may also be made of wood. The cover is preferably formed with depending side flanges 15 and front and rear flanges 16. In the side flanges are formed a plurality of apertures 17. A block 18 having a pair of apertures which register with any pair of apertures in the flanges 1 5 are fastened to each side flange by means of bolts 19. The blocks 18 are provided with a third intermediate aperture which serves as a socket for a rod 20 which extends across the entire width of the cover. This rod serves as an axis about which the cover may be raised when the tub is to be used for washing purposes. It is necessary, therefore, to provide means for suspending the cover from the tub at its axial line, namely, the rod 20. To this end I provide a pair of metallic strap hangers 21 having a circular aperture 22 formed at the lower end thereof, whereby the strap may be fitted over an outwardly threaded coupling member 22 which connects the faucets 11 to the elbows 12. To clamp the hanger against the tub, I employ a nut 23 which threads upon the coupling member 22. A portion 24 at the upper end of the straps is bent right angularly and the end of this portion is overturned to form a circular socket 25 within which the rod 20 is held. It will be seen that the combination of the rod and hangers constitute a hinge whereby the cover may readily be raised to a substantially vertical position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, Or lowered to a horizontal position upon the tub.

It may sometimes be impracticable, due to the character of the plumbing, to employ strap hangers such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I, therefore, have shown in Figs. 3 and 4, means for mounting the hin e mem ber upon the wall of the tub itself. Thus, I

provide a clamp member which straddles the rear wall 31 of the tub and is secured thereto by means of a set screw 32. Embracing the top of the clamp member 30 is a hinge member 33 which is secured there to by means of a screw 3%. At the rear end of the hinge member is formed a circular socket 35 within which the rod 30 is held in the same manner as above described. As the thickness of the walls of the tubs may vary, the clamp member 30 is made wide enough to fit the largest size and spacers 36 may be employed for the thinner walls.

In some cases the tubs are placed flush against the wall so as not to leave any room at all therebetween. In that event, the hinge member would have to be disposed differently from that shown in either Figs. 1 and 3. I, therefore, have shown in Fig. 6 in which the wall 40 of the tub is flush against the wall of the room, the hinge member ll as being secured to the inner surface of the wall by suitable means such as a screw 42. The socket 43 of the hinge is disposed above the upper edge of the wall -10. In this way there is sufficient room for the cover A0 to be turned about its axis 45.

In order that the cover may not mar the front wall of the tub, I preferably provide a pair of rubber buffers which rest upon the top edges of the tub. These bufiers also tend to absorb the shock when the cover inadvertently falls down from its vertical position.

It will thus be seen that I have provided as an article of manufacture a cover for laundry tubs which may be readily fitted to different sizes of tubs and closes the usual space between the rear of the tub and the wall. The tubs thus covered may be utilized as a table and there is no possibility of anything falling behind the tub as has heretofore been the case. The cover may preferably be made of sheet metal so that it is as durable as the tub itself. The adjusting means of the cover is Very simple in character so that there is nothing to get out of order and cause inconvenience.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A closure for laundry tubs comprising a cover, means for adjustably hinging the cover to the tub at a plurality of points on said cover.

2. A closure for laundry tubs comprising a cover, an axle, means engaging the axle for supporting it upon the tub, and means for pivotally supporting the cover on the axle at different points along said cover.

3. A closure for laundry tubs comprising a cover, a pair of hinge members secured to a stationary support adjacent the tub, and means for removably attaching said hinge members at different points adjacent the rear of said cover, whereby the cover may overlap the rear of said tub a predetermined distance and be pivotally movable thereon.

A. A closure for laundry tubs comprising a cover, means for adjustably hinging the cover to the tub at a plurality of points on said cover, said means including socket members adapted to be adjusted at any of said points, an axle held in said sockets and a hinge member secured to a stationary support in connection with the tub and embracing said axle.

5. A closure for laundry tubs having faucets associated therewith, comprising a cover, hinges adapted to be mounted upon said faucets, and means by which they may be pivotally attached to said cover at one of a plurality of points to allow the cover to overlap the tub a predetermined distance.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 3d day of July A. D. 1915.

ISAAC L. MILLER.

Witnesses:

WM. I. COHEN, MINNIE S. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

